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The headaches a government shutdown could create for people in the process of buying a home

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:28:00 GMT

A government shutdown (if it happens) could add headaches to the home buying process for thousands of people nationwide, and that includes buyers in the D.C. area, especially government workers in the process of buying.“Federal employees, who might be in the middle of a mortgage application, who may be furloughed during that time and not get paid, that could cause a big slowdown in their process,” said Francki DiFrancesco, branch manager and senior vice president of mortgage lending for OriginPoint in Chevy Chase, Maryland.The problem for federal employees is mortgage lenders need to verify the income of a buyer, but if a buyer is not getting paid, they wouldn’t have the paystubs necessary to close.Also, anyone looking for a government-backed loan could also see delays in the processing of their applications.“[Federal Housing Administration] and [Veterans Affairs] loans will operate on a reduced capacity,” said DiFrancesco.Loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture wo...

Austin Reed accounts for 3 touchdowns as Western Kentucky tops Middle Tennessee 31-10

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:28:00 GMT

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) — Austin Reed threw for two touchdowns, ran for another and Western Kentucky defeated Middle Tennessee 31-10 on Thursday night in a Conference USA opener.Reed was 30 for 52 for 297 yards and an interception as the Hilltoppers (3-2) won their fifth-straight in the series dubbed “100 Miles of Hate” that WKU leads 37-35-1.Western Kentucky (3-2) had 444 total yards to 373 for the Blue Raiders but Middle Tennessee (1-4) was 5 of 16 on third down, 2 of 4 on fourth down and had three turnovers. The Hilltoppers used a late first-half turnover to get a rushing touchdown from Reed to go with his two passing scores, for a 23-3 halftime lead. Reed was 24 of 38 for 233 yards with touchdown passes to Easton Messer and Davion Ervin-Poindexter.But the Blue Raiders lost a fumble on their 310 and Reed took advantage with two passes to Jimmy Holiday getting the ball to the 1 before Reed bulled in for the score with nine seconds to go. Nicholas Vattiato was 27 of 45 for 25...

Cardell Williams throws for 3 TDs, runs for a fourth, to lead Tulsa past Temple 48-26

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:28:00 GMT

TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Cardell Williams threw for three touchdowns and ran for another to lead Tulsa to a 48-26 win over Temple on Thursday night to open America Athletic Conference play.While Williams was 14-of-17 passing for 244 yards and ran for another 90 yards, the Golden Hurricanes (3-2) smothered the Owls (2-3) offense with two turnovers and three stops on fourth down. Temple just surpassed its season average of 258 yards passing but 99 yards came in the fourth quarter after Tulsa was comfortably ahead. Tulsa’s offense piled up 533 yards behind Williams. He got the team off to a good start with 10- and 27-yard touchdown passes to Marquis Shoulders in the first quarter.Williams was 7-of-8 passing for 112 yard and three touchdowns in the first half with an 8-yard connection with Devan Williams that made it 21-3 at halftime. Cardwell Williams added a 22-yard touchdown run inthe fourth quarter that made it 48-18. Anthony Watkins and Tahj Gary also had rushing touchdowns for th...

‘Absolutely electric’: Fans rejoice at Camden Yards as Orioles clinch AL East

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:28:00 GMT

Cheers from a boisterous crowd at Camden Yards rose to a constant roar during the ninth inning of Thursday night’s game, with Orioles fans at the liveliest the ballpark has seen in years.“Nervous? No, no,” Shaun Collins, a Ridgely’s Delight resident, said during the final moments of the game, pausing to join other shouts from the standing area behind right field. “We’re having fun, no pressure.”Seconds later, reliever Tyler Wells recorded the final out of a 2-0 victory against the Red Sox, and the crowd exploded. The Orioles had clinched the American League East, winning the sport’s consistently most competitive division for the first time since 2014. Baltimore’s only other division title in the past 40 seasons came in 1997, which was also the last time the club secured the AL’s best record and thus home-field advantage leading up to the World Series.Clinching earned the Orioles the right to begin the postseason O...

For Orioles, second clubhouse celebration of 2023 makes clear: ‘This is the expectation for years to come’

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:28:00 GMT

It was only 11 days ago that the Orioles went through the same procedure.They swapped out sweaty jerseys for orange T-shirts after an historic accomplishment, wrapped green-banded goggles around their heads and partied in the tarp-covered clubhouse, soaking one another in beer and champagne.That Sunday evening party came on the heels of an exhilarating, postseason-berth-clinching win in 11 innings over their fellow American League East power, the Tampa Bay Rays. This one — a 2-0 victory Thursday night over the last-place Boston Red Sox that crowned the Orioles division champs for the first time since 2014, on a night when the club reached a 30-year lease agreement to stay at Camden Yards — felt different.It still had the bones of a raucous celebration.Reliever Shintaro Fujinami still flashed a wide-eyed smile complemented by a signature, “Ahhh,” sticking his tongue out anytime there was a camera in his face. Rookie starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez still...

Orioles win AL East, exceeding expectations with unique blend of stars, survivors and castoffs: ‘They’ve learned to battle’

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:28:00 GMT

The Orioles entered 2023 with high expectations for themselves, but few beyond the clubhouse believed they were capable of what they achieved Thursday.A team of rising young stars, rebuild survivors, castoffs and veterans blended together in harmony across the past six months to win the American League East on the night the ballclub also agreed to a new 30-year lease to keep the Orioles in Baltimore.Even the team’s general manager was skeptical of this possibility, saying in December it would be “really hard to sit there and chart a course” for Baltimore to be the favorite of the daunting division. But Mike Elias did not completely dismiss it, noting “young teams pop all the time.”Well, they popped, and so have bottles of champagne. The Orioles won the AL East, a division considered baseball’s best, for the first time since 2014 with Thursday’s 2-0 victory against the Boston Red Sox in front of an energized crowd of 27,543 at Camden Y...

Bicyclist survives cardiac arrest after help from bystanders, SDFD

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:28:00 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Tim Gagen has always been an avid bicyclist.“I ride 30- 40 miles, about three times a week,” Gagen said.But on June 9 on a regular day riding, the 69-year-old suffered sudden cardiac arrest.But Michael Brice, paramedic with San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, remembers it.“We saw a bicyclist on our way, kind of acting of erratic,” Brice said.Gagen was riding his bike on Voltaire Street in Ocean Beach then collapsed in an intersection. A fire and rescue crew was dispatched to the scene.“When we showed up, there was already a car blocking the scene with bystander performing CPR and we took over from there,” Brice said. “This was pretty special because we got pulses back after only two rounds of CPR.” Scripps Health cutting ties with insurance covering thousands of SD seniors Brice credits bystanders who quickly jumped into action to perform CPR for the favorable outcome.As Gagen reunites with the fire and rescue crew who helped him—he hopes to one day also thank...

‘We’re certainly among friends’: Thirteen rock acts join Canada’s Walk of Fame

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:28:00 GMT

TORONTO — Thirteen Canadian rock bands of the 1970s and 1980s rolled back the clock on Thursday as they were inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame with a night chock full of good memories and even greater radio hits.Glass Tiger, Loverboy and Trooper were among the bands toasted at Toronto’s Massey Hall as part of a “mega-induction” ceremony dubbed “Rock of Fame,” which celebrated a time when the country’s rock pulse was pounding.Between a packed lineup of live performances, the night was loaded with laughs about time passed, hair lost and the follies of aging.“We’re all here on the same ride tonight,” Loverboy’s Mike Reno proclaimed early in the ceremony.His sentiment was shared by many of his fellow inductees on the pre-show red carpet, where they described the familiar faces they passed backstage. “We’re certainly among friends here,” noted guitarist Al Harlow, who was honoured as part of Vancouver rockers Prism.̶...

South Sudan’s leader discusses closer ties in energy, trade with Russian President Putin

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:28:00 GMT

JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — Visiting South Sudan President Salva Kiir agreed in a meeting with Russia’s president to expand their relationship in energy, trade and other areas, notably oil.Kiir and President Vladimir Putin met in Moscow on Thursday and also discussed political and security matters in South Sudan, which is preparing for its first presidential election in December 2024. The country won independence from Sudan in 2011, and Kiir has led the country since then.According to a video of the leaders’ public statements posted online by the Kremlin, Putin said the development of oil refineries in South Sudan with the participation of Russian companies would strengthen ties.“This is only the beginning. We have many good opportunities in a variety of fields, including energy,” Putin said.Currently, Russia’s Safinat Group is working on an oil refinery in South Sudan’s Unity state.Russia’s invitation to Kiir to visit came as global powers reach out to African nations for suppor...

Millions take to China’s railways, roads, air in 1st big autumn holiday since end of zero-COVID

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:28:00 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — Many millions of Chinese tourists are expected to travel within their country, splurging on hotels, tours, attractions and meals in a boost to the economy during the 8-day autumn holiday period that began Friday. This year’s holiday began with the Mid-Autumn Festival on Friday and also includes the Oct. 1 National Day. The public holidays end on Oct. 6. Typically hundreds of millions of Chinese travel at home and overseas during such holidays. The eight-day-long holiday is the longest week of public holidays since COVID-19 pandemic restrictions were lifted in December. Outbound tourism has lagged domestic travel, with flight capacities lagging behind pre-pandemic levels.Big cities like the capital, Beijing, Shanghai, and southern cities like Shenzhen and Guangzhou are favored destinations. Smaller cities, such as Chengdu and Chongqing in southwest China also are popular.All that travel is a boon for the world’s No. 2 economy: During the week-long May holiday t...